Pistol light



A. s. LYHNE PISTOL LIGHT Filed June 26, 1950 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 l 7UNITED STATES ANKER S. LYI-INE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT; THEBRIDGEPORT CITY TRUST CO., OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT EXECUTOR OF SAID(ANKER S. LYI-INE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR T THE BRIDGEPORT METAL GOODSMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDG-EPORT, CONNECTICUT', A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT PISTOL LIGHT Application filed .Tune 26,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in flashlights andhas particular relation to a flashlight shaped or formed to resemble anautomatic pistol.

L An object of the invention is to provide a flashlight of very simpleconstruction and so constructed as not to include a switch or switches,and wherein the circuit through the bulb from the battery is closed bybodily l0 moving the battery to bring the center contact thereof intoengagement with the center contact of the bulb.

Another object is to provide a pistol flashlight wherein the light andthe reflector 16 therefor are disposed in the end of the pistol barreland wherein the battery of the light is disposed in the pistol barrel inthe rear of the bulb and reflector and is'readily replaceable orrenewable, it being only necessary to remove the reflector and bulb andslide the old battery out of the barrel and slide a new battery into thebarrel.

A further object is to provide a pistol flashlight wherein the lightbulb is disposed in the end of the .pistol barrel and wherein the lightbattery is disposed in the pistol barrel, means being provided in thepistol handle or grip I'and including a trigger member and operating onbeing pressed to move the battery to make a contact and energize thebulb.

An additional object is to provide a pistol flashlight including abarrel, in one end of which is disposed a light bulb, and a pistolhandle or grip including a portion embracing the barrel to secure thebarrel to the handle or grip.

A still further object is to provide a pistol flashlight including abarrel and a handle,4 the handle being stampe-d from sheet metal andformed and wrapped about the barrel to secure the barrel to the handle.

Yet another object is to provide a pist-ol flashlight wherein the lightbulb and battery are arranged in the pistol barrel and wherein thepistol handle or grip contains only a trigger mechanism and maytherefore be permanently closed.

A further object is to provide a pistol flashlight wherein the parts areof sheet metal and capable of being made by stamping and 1930. SerialNo. 463,912.

forming operations and thus produced in quantities at reasonable cost.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein a form of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a complete flashlight;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the grip removed;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the grip before the same is applied to thebarrel;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the trigger removed, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of a modified grip.

Referring in detail to the drawings the improved flashlight as shown isgenerally in the form of an automatic pistol and includes a tubularbarrel 10 and a grip portion 11. At itsl forward end the barrel 10 iscrimped as at 12 to form a screw thread and within this end of thebarrel is threaded a reflector 13 of any or the usual construction.Threaded through the reflector 13 is alight bulb 14 the center contact15 of which preferably projects beyond the inner end of the reflector.

Also disposed within the barrel 10 and located rearwardly of the bulb 14is a battery 16. Disposed at the forward end of the battery 16 andsurrounding the center contact 17 thereof is an insulator 18 againstwhich bears one end of a coil spring 19, the other end of said springbearing against the reflector 13. Obviously, the reflector has contactwith the barrel 10 and the spring maintains the battery spaced from thebulb, and the insulator 18 prevents the spring from forming a. contactor electrical connection between the contact 17 of the battery and theother parts of the flashlight.

Handle or grip 11 is preferably of sheet metal and formed to resemblethe grip of an automatic pistol. As formed, the grip 11 includes similaropposite sides 20 connected by a substantially tubular portion 21. The

size of the tubular portion 21 is such that CTL when the sides 20 of thegrip are secured together the tubular portion 21 will snugly receive andgrip the barrel 10. In fact, the parts may be assembled by slipping thebarrel 10 through theI tubular portion 21, the end of the barrelcarrying the bulb 14 being first inserted and the barrel then beingpushed through the portion 21 until the enlarged or flanged closed rearend 22 of the barrel engages the portion as shown in Fig. 1.

The sides 20 of the handle or grip are secured together as by means ofrivets 23, 24 and 25 although screws or bolts may of course be used ifdesired. Pivotally mounted on the rivet 23 is a trigger member 26comprising a finger portion 27, mounting armsl 28 through which therivet 23 extends and operating extensions 29.

Pivotally mounted on the rivet 24 is an operating part 30 slotted as at31. The slotted portion of the part 3() is received between theextensions 29 o'f the trigger member and pivotally connected to them bymeans of a pin 32 carried by the extensions and passing through the slot31. The under side of the barrel 10 is cut away or slotted as at 39 andthe upper or hook like portion 33 of the part 30 extends through suchslot and has its rounded portion 34 in engagement with the rear endofthe battery 16.

When the parts are assembled as shown and described, the bulb 14 may beenergized by pressing the finger portion 27 of the trigger member in adirection to move said p0rtion toward the handle or grip 11. This actionresults of course in movement of the trigger member about its pivotingrivet 23 and such movement of the trigger member is imparted through thepin 32' to the part 30, resulting in such part being shifted about itspivot 24 in a direction to cause its end 34 to move the battery forwardin the barrel. The battery is of course moved forward against the actionof s ring 19 and when the battery has been moved) forward the requireddistance its center contact 17 will engage the center contact 15 of thebulb.

As before stated the bulb through the reflector 13 is grounded on thepistol, particularly on 'the barrel 10. Through contact of theportion`34 with the exposed end of the battery, the battery is alsogrounded on the pistol, and therefore, on the center contacts 15 and 17being brought into engagement a circuit is completed through the bulb14. In this connection it is to be noted that the end 34 ofthe part 30has a sliding connection with the end of the `battery and willconstantly wipe the end of the battery whereby good contact will alwaysbe made.

In Fig. 6 is shown a slightly modified form of grip, the same comprisingtwo separate pieces 35, the pieces being complemental parts of the gripand each including a curved ex- \---"-j5\tens\ion 36, the extensions 36extending toward each other and being adapted to grip the barrel 10between them when they are assembled. The grip of Fig. 6 very closelyresembles the grip of the other figures and when the parts 35 aresecured or riveted together the edges 37 of the extensions 36 will yform a substantially tubular portion, similar to the tubularvportion 21of the other figures, and in which the barrel 10 will be clamped asalready described. Any suitable ornamentation may be stamped on thehandle members. Thus, they may be embossed as indicated at 38 torepresent scale or check plates or the like, and give a more attractiveand realistic appearance.' Also the shape of the barrel may be changedto give the appearance desired and to more nearly resemble a real pistolbarrel. It need not be cylindrical, as it may be hexagonal or othershape in cross section, and it may be of larger diameter at the handleend than at the light end, or the like.

' From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided aflashlight free of switches and which comprises the minimum number orparts. Further it will be seen that the handle and barrel are readilyassembled and that the battery may be removed for renewal withoutopening the handle or touching the trigger mechanism. It is simplynecessary to remove the reflector which will carry the bulb with it, andthen to hold the barrel to permit the battery to drop out pushing thespring ahead of it if the latter was not removed with the reliector. Thespring may be secured to the reflector by crimping or soldering itthereto. The insulator l18 may also be secured to the spring. Anotherbattery is simply inserted into the barrel, the spring being replaced,the reflector and bulb are screwed into place, and the operation ofrenewing the battery is completed. If the reflector, spring andinsulator are connected together they are all replaced by merelyscrewing the reflector into the barrel.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barreland a grip, an electric bulb in. the end of the barrel, a battery in thebarrel, a trigger on the grip, and means operable by the trigger to movethe battery toward the bulb to bring the center of contact of thebattery into engagement with the center contact of the bulb.

2,.,/Ii1 a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including abarrel and a grip, an electric bulb in the end of the barrel, a batteryin the barrel, a spring disposed between the bat-' tery and the bulb andnormally holding them in spaced relation, a trigger mechanism on thegrip, and said trigger mechanism includinga portion adapted to move thebattery toward the bulb to bring the center contact 0f the battery intoengagement with the cen- )opta ter contact of the bulb when the triggeris pressed.

3. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barreland a grip, an electric bulb in the end of thebarrel, said bulb groundedon the pistol, a battery in the barrel, a spring disposed between thebattery and the bulb and normally holding them in' spaced relation, atrigger mechanism on the grip, said trigger mechanism including aportion adapted to move the battery toward the bulb to bring the centercontact of the battery into engagement with the center contact of thebulb when the'trigger is pressed, and said portion of the triggermechanism serving to ground the battery on the pistol.

4. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barreland a grip, an electric bulb in the end of the barrel, a battery in thebarrel, a spring disposed between the battery and the bulb and normallyholding them in spaced relation, an insulator between the spring and thebattery and surrounding the center contact thereof, a trigger mechanismcarried by the grip, and said trigger mechanism including a portionadapted to move the battery toward the bulb to bring the center contactof the battery into engagement with the center contact of' the bulbwhenthe trigger is pressed.

5. A flashlight generally in the form of a pistol, the same comprising atubular barrel having an enlarged portion, and a grip including aportion engaging the side of the barrel and against which the enlargedportion of 'the barrel abuts to locate the barrel and grip relatively,said porti-on of the grip mounting the grip on the barrel.

6. In a lashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a tubularbarrel and a grip, said grip including a portion embracing. the barreland mounting the grip on the barrel, and a pair of hollow grip portionscarried by the embracing portion, va trigger mechanism within the hollowgrip portions and including a part extending into the tubular barrel, abulb and battery within the barrel and normally in spaced relation andsaid part of the trigger mechanism extending into the barrel adapted tomove the battery to close a circuit through the bulb on the triggermechanism being operated.

7. In a iashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barreland a grip, a bulb in one end of the pistol barrel, a battery in saidbarrel, and a trigger mechanismen the grip for bringing about theclosing of a circuit between the battery land bulbl on the triggermechanism being operated, said bulb being removable through its end ofthe barrel, and said battery being removable through said end of thebarrel for replacement and the like, on removable of the bulb.

8. In a ilashlightgenerally in the form of a pistol including abarreland a grip, an

electric bulb in one end of the barrel, a battery in the barrel, atrigger mechanism carried by the grip, said trigger mechanism includinga pivotally mounted part projecting into the barrel and engaging thebattery, and a trigger connected with said part and adapted on beingoperated to move said part about its pivot and move the battery forward0 y([zlose a circuit through the battery and 9. In a flashlightgenerally in the form of a' pistol including a barrel and a grip, anelectric bulb in one end of the barrel, said bulb grounded on thebarrel, a battery in the barrel, a trigger mechanism carried by thegrip, said trigger mechanism including a part pivotally mounted in thegrip and having an extension projecting into the barrel and engaging thebattery, said part grounding the battery, and a trigger connected withsaid part and adapted on being operated to move said part about itspivot to have the same move the battery forward to bring the centercontact of the battery into engagement with the center contact of thebulb to energize the latter.

10. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including atubular barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in one end of the barrel, abattery in the barrel, said grip comprising members having portionscooperating to clamp the barrel between them, means for securing thegrip. members together, and manually operated means in the grip forclosing the circuit through the bulb.

11. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including atubular barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in one end of the barrel, abattery in the barrel, said grip comprising members having portionsco-operating to clamp the barrel between them, a plurality of meanssecuring the grip members together, a trigger pivoted on one of saidmeans, a lever pivoted on another of said means and extending into thevalve in the rear of the battery, and a pin and slot connection betweenthe trigger and lever whereby on the trigger being pressed the lever ismoved about its pivot to force the battery in the direction of the bulbto close a circuit through the battery and bulb.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature.

ANKER S. LYHNE.

